“I’ll do it,” hetold Matt, who nodded like he hadn’t expected any other answer.
“Think you couldget this done by Wednesday? The features editor was just telling me how theyhave space in this weekend’s edition.”
“I’ll have itdone,” Tim answered with more confidence than he actually felt. Seeing Connoragain would be difficult. But for the sake of advancing his career, Tim waswilling to face the man he’d fallen for so hard and who had hurt him so badly.
****
Working with theapproval and cooperation of the Albright Software Media Foundation allowed Timto conduct the interviews in fairly short order. Within forty-eight hours, he’dtalked to Philadelphia’s mayor, the superintendent of schools, the Foundation’spresident, and several of the beneficiaries of the donation, including gratefulteachers and students. There was only one major figure Tim hadn’t interviewed,and he’d hoped he’d be able to write the story without doing so.
However, theAlbright Software Media Foundation president disabused him of that notion nearthe end of their interview. “As much as I’d love to take credit for coming upwith this initiative,” she’d said, “this actually is the brainchild of ConnorAlbright, the CEO and founder of our parent company.”
“Is that so?”Tim asked, more than a little surprised by the news.
The womannodded. “I know for a fact that he’s eager to discuss how he formulated thiseducational initiative and why he thinks it’s so vital to Philadelphia’sfuture.”
“Great, I’velove to talk to him. I’m sure the Chronicle’sreaders would love to hear from one of the country’s most prominent citizens,”Tim said through gritted teeth.
He calledConnor’s executive assistant, expecting to get the brush-off. Instead, thewoman made an appointment for the next evening. Even now as he stood on the topfloor of Albright Software Media’s building in Connor’s corner office, Timstill had a hard time believing they were about to come face to face onceagain.
You’re here only for an interview. Leave the past in the past.
But the momentConnor walked into the office, all thoughts of objectivity flew out the window.In an instant, Tim’s mind flashed back to what it had been like in Connor’sarms, to feel Connor’s tongue in his mouth and his cock deep in his ass.
Tim rose fromthe chair, forcing himself out of the sexual trance, though Connor’s warm smiledid nothing to help ease his sense of longing.
“Hi. I apologizefor keeping you waiting. Seems like I’m always telling you that,” Connor said,letting out brief chuckle. “I had a board meeting that went longer thanexpected. Is this too late for you? We can reschedule if you have other plans.”
Tim didn’t haveanything planned for that night, or any other night that week. Yet he stillmade a show of consulting his watch anyway. “I was supposed to meet somefriends at a jazz club, but I’ll catch up with them later. This interview withyou is my priority right now.”
Connor’senigmatic smile made Tim think he had seen through his bullshit. Connor satbehind his desk and said, “Since I’ve already held you up, let’s get started soI don’t delay you any further.”
That was justwhat Tim wanted to hear. The sooner he got this interview over with, the soonerhe’d be out of Connor’s presence and away from the memories it evoked. With penand notepad already in hand, he pulled his tape recorder out of his pocked andturned it on. “I’d like to start by asking you what initially inspired you togive a fifty-million-dollar donation to fund this education initiative.”
For the nexttwenty minutes, the two men went back and forth, with Tim using Connor’sanswers to fill in some of the gaps that still remained in his article. Likethe first time he interviewed Connor, Tim found him honest, candid, andsurprisingly humble for someone funding an educational enterprise of this size.“It’s unusual for someone in your position, the CEO of a Fortune 500 company,to not only initiate a public effort such as this, but to pledge continuedinvolvement to ensure its success.”
Connor leanedback in his chair, a pensive expression on his face. “Suffering a heart attackand undergoing quadruple bypass surgery has caused me to reexamine mypriorities.”
Though startledby the mention of his health issues, Tim didn’t interrupt as Connor continued.
“Whilemaintaining Albright Software Media’s commitment to growth and innovation, Irealized that there needed to be an equal emphasis on developing the talents offuture generations. The doctors who performed my surgery were among the best intheir field. I want to do what I can to make sure the future doctors in thenext generation have what they need.”
Tim knew askingConnor about his health might put him on thin ice, but he decided to go for itanyway. “How are you feeling? You certainly look better than the last time Isaw you.”
Connor paused,hesitation clouded his face. “I’m fine,” he finally said.
“Okay, then.”Tim clicked off the recorder. “I think I’ve got what I need here. Thanks somuch for your―”
“That’s it?”Connor’s eyes widened and he sat up straight in his chair. “Don’t you want toask me some more questions about how my recovery is going?”
Tim shook hishead. “I don’t want the rug yanked out from under me again. I didn’t mean tobring it up, but my curiosity got the better of me. Anyway, it has nothing todo with this article, so it won’t get mentioned.”
“You don’t haveanything to worry about, at least not on our end. There won’t be anyinterference with your article this time. The public already knows about myheart attack and surgery, so there’s no need for the same level of secrecy aslast time.”
“Yeah, I saw theprofile on you in The Wall Street Journal.It was a good article,” Tim admitted grudgingly.
“Actually, Ipreferred the questions you asked me. They were a lot more incisive andprobably would have made for a better read.”
We’ll never know, Tim wanted to say, but he heldhis tongue. “I’m sort of glad things wound up the way they did. If you hadn’tgotten my first article canned, I might not be here now doing this particularinterview. In the long run, this feature on your donation to fund the neweducational initiative is a lot more important and meaningful. So, I guess Iowe you a thank you.”
“And I owe youan apology.”
